Dr. Lisa Tipton has performed internationally and recorded for over 20 years as violinist of the award winning Meridian String Quartet.  As a member of the quartet, she has held residences at The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and Bard College as well as appeared in many summer music festivals including Kneisel Hall, Yale at Norfolk, Hot Springs and Meeting House Music Festivals. Lisa has performed with the Meridian String Quartet in many major concert series and halls including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie, Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, The Phillips Gallery in Washington D.C., Princeton University Concert Series, Yellow Springs Chamber Music Series, DeBlasis Series at Hyde Museum, Caramoor and has been heard on WNYC and WQXR.  The Quartet has recorded a Jazz CD with Hank Jones on LRC, as well as several contemporary music recordings on Capstone and Arizona Records. They have also commissioned works by Elliot Sharp, Manny Albam and Bruce Adolphe.

As a devoted interpreter of new music, Lisa, along with collaborative pianist Adrienne Kim, established the "Made in America" series at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, where they commissioned and premiered works by Inessa Zaretsky, Nicolas Scherzinger, Stefania de Kenessey, Harry Stafylakis, Ines Thiebaut and Whitney George.  Lisa has also performed on the "Interpretations" series at Merkin Concert Hall. Lisa also launched the NY Chamber Music CoOP in NYC devoted to social justice programming. This past season Lisa launched the Unsung Chamber Music series on YouTube, a NYYS repertoire initiative to feature composers from diverse cultures. 

Lisa and Adrienne's critically acclaimed recording of the Ives sonatas for violin and piano, "Hammers & Strings," was released in 2006 on Capstone Records.  Dave Lewis of the All Music Guide states:

          "Tipton and Kim attempt to balance Ives' vision in a naturally developed, one wants to say "holistic" way, particularly as it applied to his first, most enigmatic sonata - this is probably the best recording ever make of it.  However, there is no 'favorite sonata' here, all four are given equal attention and care, and Tipton and Kim concentrate on the four in the context of their individual requirements, which vary widely even from movement to movement…The sound quality is better than anything heard on the Capstone label; full, bright, and yet warm."

And Scott Mortensen of the UK Music Web:

         "These are excellent recordings of Ives' four violin sonatas.  Both Tipton and Kim seem very attuned to the folksy, idiomatic elements in this music, and they don't hesitate to give full rein to its rowdier aspects… these musician do more than realize the folksy qualities in this music.  They do a fine job of conveying the gentle, reflective, and reverential aspects of this music."

Lisa's chamber music performances include tours with the Manhattan Piano Trio under the auspices of Community Concerts, and quartet performances in Crotia, Italy and England.   Lisa has collaborated in performance with Carmit Zori, Alan Kay, Seymour Lipkin, Paul Neubauer, Ron Feldman, David Taylor and William Sharp.

Lisa's solo concerto appearances include performances with the Cornell Alumni Chamber Orchestra at Cornell, The New York and Barbad Chamber Orchestras, and the Bronx Symphony.  Lisa, an active freelancer in New York City, performs with the American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos, Little Orchestra Society, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and has played in many Broadway shows including Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin, My Fair Lady, Sunset Boulevard, Spamalot, The Little Mermaid, Finian's Rainbow, Sister's Act, Gypsy and A Christmas Carol.

Dr. Tipton earned her DMA at the CUNY Graduate Center, and her MA from Queens College and has studied with Danny Phillips, Ani Kavafian, Roman Totenberg, Gerald Beal, Joyce Robbins and The Juilliard Quartet.  She received her BA from Cornell University where she was a College Scholar. She lives in Sunnyside Gardens historic district in Queens with her husband, violinist Sebu Sirinian, and her toy poodle Brownie.  Her daughte graduated from Columbia University School of Social Work  in New York City.  When she is not playing music, Lisa loves to read, draw, paint, hike, bike and spend time with family and friends over good food and wine!

Photo: Laurie Rhodes